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Do or don't: Vests

Vests used to confuse me. When would you wear one? I wondered. If it's cold, you want sleeves. If it's hot, you'll just wear your T-shirt. Although they looked cute, vests seemed random and unnecessary.Until Alex got one. Now I totally get it. Here's the funny magic of vests: Do you sleep cuddled under the covers, but always stick one leg out? Or keep the window open so your nose gets cold? So it feels both cozy and refreshing? That's what a vest feels like!!!

It's perfect for spring and fall days, or cool summer evenings. Tomboyish and laid-back. I love it. The vest we have is sold out, but this Barbour vest is similar; and also this Belstaff one is super chic. Have you ever worn a vest?(My jeans are Emerson Fry and boots are Loeffler Randall)

151 comments:

I LOVE puffy vests! They are so casual chic... I wear them on Sundays with my wellies, to the beach with the dogs. I have a bright oscar the grouch green one that i ADORE. YOU look super cute in yours! Toby is pretty darn cute too!XoEva

I agree, I never knew how to wear them exactly and just mainly used mine for running in the colder months. I am happy to say I just wore one for the first time and styled it based on what Ive seen around the web and blogs and loved it! Cozy and comfy! -JB.

Yep! I love wearing vests. Here in Houston, you can wear them a lot. We really don't have too cold of a Winter so wearing a long sleeve T-shirt and a vest over is the perfect mix. You stay cool but still feel cozy warm.

i love vests. but, then again, i'm an engineer, and i think every, single engineer has at least one in his/her wardrobe... the nice thing about mine (at least the ones that don't have icky embroidered logos on them) is that i can wear them to work and look like an enginerd (yes, that's engineer and nerd married together) or... i can pair one with leggings and a slouchy hat and look totally cute.

Um, I swear by vests. Don't even get me started. I think I have 7 or 8. Maybe 10. I bought my first one in 2004 at the Gap...and I still have it. Give me a vest over a coat any day. Every time I think I should weed out my vest collection, I absolutely can't do it. I try, I promise I try. I have specific vests for every occasion/season/temperature/outfit. There is not a single article of clothing I depend on as much as I do my vests. I'd have to say Eddie Bauer has the best vests. How do I know my boyfriend loves me? He tells me all the time I have too many, yet for Christmas he got me a grey wool EB vest I'd been lusting over for months.

And now I've typed "vest" so many times it doesn't even look like a word anymore. I need to stop before I start making horrible investment puns.

I totally stick my leg out when I sleep under a cosy cover! It makes sense that a vest would keep you warm, but not suffocate you. Love the idea. By the way, you look so chic in these pictures. Bet Toby would be cute in a vest, too!

my husband and i never wore vests, we couldn't quite fit them in, until about a year ago when we started traveling in our vintage airstream and were in & out of various climates constantly..now we can't live without them {i consistently have to turn away from cute new vests, such as many from jcrew, and remind myself while newly essential, one or two will suffice}. you have a lovely blog, i've only recently discovered you and have greatly enjoyed playing catch up. xo, tiffany

i have been wearing puffer vests for almost ten years now! needless to say, i've fallen victim to lots of criticism over the years from a few vest haters... but my love is unwavering. here's why... have you ever biked in a vest?! they're practically made for the occasion!

Growing up in Michigan, I never really understood vest either, mainly because most of the time it's way too cold there to not wear a full jacket...but when we moved to Colorado, I totally got the appeal because a lot of times it would be crisp and cool, but sunny and in the high 40's/low 50's aka perfect vest weather!

You guys look adorable! I certainly think it's a do. I haven't worn one since I was a teenager and I only wore it then as I thought it made my boobs look bigger! Perhaps now it's time to get one again (for better reasons!) :)

This post amuses me, because, I guess, vests have just always been part of my life! If you grow up in Maine 15 minutes from L.L.Bean and go to a outdoorsy/preppy liberal arts college, you wear vests. You wear fleece vests, and down vests. L.L. Bean has a cute one hidden in the hunting section of their website (and apparently shown in Marie Claire magazine.)

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/47351?feat=507965-GN2

Vests are very functional layering pieces, of course, but they can also look very hip with boots, as you show. In New England, they are a good "transitional season" piece of clothing.

I used to think I couldn't pull of off the look. But I bought one for our honeymoon because we were going to be driving a lot and in and out of mountain ranges. It was perfect. Sort of sporty casual. I love mine. Again, especially for driving.

I love vests. In LA nobody seems o understand the vest - which is strange because layering is so useful here where it's warm during the day and cool at night. My husband and I sometimes wear our poofy vests together. It's so lame, but it reminds us of when we lived in Brooklyn :)

you and alex are adorable in your matching vests. i saw you two walking last night - my beloved and i were eating outside at bar pitti (in march! outside!). you two have similar glasses and overall style - very complimentary! love it!

I'm obsessed with my down vest. wear it all the time (perfect for San Francisco weather). In fact, just last week my son saw a woman on the street who looked nothing like me except that she was wearing a dark vest and said, "hey mom, she looks like you!". That's when I knew things had gotten out of control. I wear my J.Crew one with skirts, leggings and jeans alike! Also, fur vests? I'm kind of loving those now too

I live in Colorado (which is very causal place to live, mostly), and I live in a puffy vest from fall until spring. I find it's usually the just-right layer I need. Plus, I hate wearing big bulky coats in the car, and since I don't live in a very walkable city, I spend plenty of time driving from place to place. The vest is good for that. On a funny note though, when I travel, I rarely bring a vest, as I feel it's too casual for many places outside of the mountains. When I travel, the dressy coats get to come instead. :)

Hehe, I've never worn a vest cause I thought my arms would feel cold but as you describe it looks like it works really well. And I thing it will suit the warm weather of Greece pretty well! Always inspiring Joanne =) xoxo

Love this. My husband just bought this terrific Patagonia vest for a ski trip....but he now sports it all the time. And although I was reluctant at first, I fell in love. With his. And I'm on the way to purchase my own too.

oh goodness, i'm a huge fan and cracked up when i saw that you posted about it! my friends all make fun of me, but i can't get enough of them. i have three and saw an older lass in a yellow one yesterday in central park...definitely on my radar for next fall :D

I was 'invested' after I moved to the US about two years ago ! My husband talked me into buying a down vest, so I got a green one with toggles (French touch !!) from J.Crew and I LOVE it, I'll wear it to the store, on a walk and whenever I fly back. I've actually got a lot of compliments from my fashionista friends, so it's most definitely a DO !

I'm sometimes embarrassed by how often I sport a vest. I literally almost live in them! BUT THEY ARE SOO GREAT. I love that they keep you warm without the bulk. I hate walking around in big, bulky coats in the winter. A vest is such a perfect solution!

I finally convinced my hubby of their comfort... and he loves his now!

They're great to just toss on over your sweater/hoodie... i think they look adorable. PLUS they keep you warm enough but not too hot. My favorite accessory for running errands or hiking with the doggies!

My husband got his first puffer vest this year and he about died of happiness. I remember this quote: "It's like my chest is warm and fuzzy, but my arms are wild and free!" (True words said by a grown man in a gleeful child voice.)

In Europe I actually saw quite a few women wearing boy-ish puffy coats with feminine frilly skirts! It looked so chic, and it's a great way to show off your outfit while keeping cozy. My favorite ensemble was a thin black turtleneck, light blue vest, and charcoal pleated skirt with some sweet red slip-on shoes. Lovely!

i say do. i have a pumpkin colored vest that i love and always get compliments. i bought it from j.crew ages ago, but it still looks great. i love layering it under lighter-weight jackets for warmth and a pop of color.

I go in and out of vest phases but I'm currently in! Been wearing my J.Crew down vest for the last few weeks and just ordered the Ride On vest from Lululemon Athletica! P.S I LOVE your LR boots! Did you find for a good price?? They are soo $$.

I have two vests and I'm obsessed with them- to the point where my husband likes to poke fun at me about it! Vests are perfect for walks in mild winter weather, but they are also perfect for shopping in the winter! You're not freezing when you go outside, but you don't sweat in the store. It's the best!

In England they are called gilets. It's a very country thing to wear them, I love wearing mine (from Jack Wills, the preppy classic English version of say Abercrombie or something) with jeans, a jumper, scarf and co-ordinating Hunter wellies! Yours looks perfect!

I LOVE my vests! I have a few and never tire of them. They are perfect for a jaunt outside to soak in all the glory of outdoors but with added warmth. Like driving with the windows down and the heater on (which I love). I spy a Ocean Avenue walk! ;)

I don't recall where I heard this but some comedian once said: "Vests. The solution for that hot-arms, yet cold-chest problem." It really got me thinking of a vests usefulness. Growing up in the psuedo-country in Canada, a lot of people wore vests. I was just never a vest person. I never felt warmer in it, and because I'm petite they always just swallowed me up! Looked like a life jacket every single time!

We're big on vests down here in Melbourne (Oz), our weather is so variable. My husband wears them over his work shirts when jackets are too warm/restrictive but shirts alone are too cold. I love the puffer kind like you have on as windbreakers when it's blustery but not too cold.

I felt the same way as you did... until I got one too! Then I understood. Here is one that I wear ALL the time (snagged it off the sale rack from Gap):http://lovelyandluxe.blogspot.com/2012/01/lazy-weekend.html

Love vests! I'm in Montreal, so vests are perfect for mild winter days when you're sick of your heavy winter coat! A vest, chunky scarf, knee boots and a cute hat equals perfection to me for the week-end errands.

Love your picture, you look so good.I have never get the idea to wear west but I do love to sleep with the window open so the room feels cooler and fresh.

ps my kids always slept outside when I lived in Iceland. When I moved to Vermont I was not sure if I would do it because of all the animals who live here in the woods haha. So sometimes my babygirl slept outside and I sat outside and read a book. Could not leave her alone.

I have to admit, when I first move to Portland from Las Vegas I did NOT get the whole puffy vest thing. It only took me one Fall/Winter here to get it! Now, 6 years later, I live in my black puffy vest. Not only is it cozy, but it's actually pretty slimming too!

We got a lovely vest for our 1,5 year old daughter just to put on when she goes to the garden.Got it at mark and spencers.http://www.marksandspencer.com/Funnel-Ditsy-Floral-Print-Gilet/dp/B002C1VIQA?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_11&nodeId=44217030&sr=1-11&qid=1331416901&pf_rd_r=1DAQX2N7Q9BRDMJ1FGHY&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=44217030&pf_rd_p=215570647&pf_rd_s=related-items-3

I LOVE my vest! I wear it almost everyday on early morning dog walks. I recently realized what I loved most about my vest: POCKETS! When you need a little place for your phone and keys or credit card - poof! There it is! Congrats on the new wardrobe addition! xo

Ok here is an important question on the dressy variety of vests. Why do they all have a silk back?? My fiance wants to wear a vest for our wedding (he uses the word waistcoat), but we both agree that the silk back is just silly. If you have a coat over your vest, then fine, make the back silk. But if you want to wear a vest without a coat, then the entire vest should be of the same material, should it not?

I would love to find the vest you are wearing in this picture from 2012. I've been trying to find one similar to it online, but am having no luck. Do you recommend a store or site to look on to find a vest similar to the one you are wearing or that is in style in 2013???